Belt-tightening device.



0. E. SHAFBR.

BELT TIGHTENING DEVICE.

PPLIoATIoN FILED nu. zo. 190s.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQ OTTIS E. SHAFER, OF BLUFFTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GEO. W. GRIMES COMPANY, OF BLUFFTON, INDIANA, A COPARTNERSHIP.

BELT-TIGHTENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Application led March 20, 1908. Serial No. 422,196.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Or'rrs E. SHAFER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Bluffton, in the county of Vells and the State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Belt-Tightening Device, of which the following is a s eciiication.

This invention re ates to improvements in devices for regulating the tension of powertransmitting belting, and has for its objects to provide a mechanism whereby the tension of such belting connecting pulleys o erating in alinement or at an angle to each ot 1er may be regulated easily and with precision.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a device ofthe character referred to that will be simple and compact in construction, of few parts, economical of manufacture, durable and not liable to get out of repair.

The objects of this invention are accomplished, by the mechanism described in this specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claim.-

In the drawings similar characters of reference referto corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my invention complete, a portion of the carriage and support-bar being broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a front-end view, and

ig. 4 is a rear-end view of my invention complete. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 and in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. i. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 and in the direction indicated by the arrow asshown in Fig. 1, the pulleywheel having been removed.

The frame of my improved device is composed of the end-standards A and B which are of substantial weight and of such form that with the support bars C rigidly secured therein by the set-screws A1 and B1, a strong supporting structure is formed. The slots A4 are provided in the feet of these endstandards through which lag-screws or bolts may be passed and secured in the foundation provided therefor.

Secured to a suitable shaft that is journaled in the end-standard B is the groovedwheel D. The suitable boXings A2 on the end-standard A are provided for the shaft E that is journaled therein and upon which shaft is secured the drum F provided with the grooves F1. The worm-gear G that is secured on the shaft E engages the worm Il'. The hand-wheel I is secured on the end of a suitable shaft that is ournaled in the boXings A3 upon which shaft and between the said boxings is secured the worm H, so that by rotation of the hand-wheel I the drum F will be actuated.

The carriage has the legs J1 which are provided with suitable boxing in which Babbitmetal bearings for the support-bars C are retained. The'support-bars C are machinesmoothed so that the carriage may freely slide thereon. The upright J`Z of the carriage is of substantial dimensions, is formed integral with the platform J and has the head J3. Located centrally in the upright J 2 is the hole J 5; K designates bolts sustained in suitable holes rovided therefor, the function of which bo ts and hole J 5 will be presently referred to.

The yoke which consists ofthe substantial body-portion L having the upper arm L and the lower arm L2 that support the journalheads-M and N, is of substantial weight and section as shown, and is secured to the carriage by the bolts K that pass through the elongated. holes O, and sustain the bodyportion L in direct engagement with the upright J 2. The stud L3 resides in the hole J5 so that the yoke is supported pivotally. By this arrangement, as plainly shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the yoke may be adjusted to and rigidly secured in different positions of inclination to the one side or the other of the vertical line.

Formed integral with the body-portion L are the housings L4 through which are screwed the set-bolts P the ends of which bear against the head J3 of the carriage. The line of curvature of the lower-arm L2 is such that it will pass underneath the platform J with ample clearance, and the recess JA1 that is provided in the edge of the platform gives ample clearance for the journal-head N. Passed through the journal-head M and having its lower end journaled in the journalhead N is the vertical-shaft Q upon which is secured the pulley-wheel R.

S designates a lug formed integral with the lower-arm L2, and. T is a lug formed upon the j ournal-head N.

Sl designates a hook having a threaded shank which is passed through the lug S; S2

designate set-nuts on either side of the lug the lug T.

drum F, is the cable U.

V designates a like cable secured by its one end to the hook S and extending for` ward to and a few turns around the drum F in the direction opposite to that of the cable U, and having this end secured to the said drum, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. A chain may be used instead of the cable, if desired..

vThis arrangement wherein the two lengths U and V of cable or chain is used is of some economy over the use of a single length; however it will be understood that the use of a single. length of cable or chain may be employed instead of the two lengths, without affecting the nature or principle of my invention. By having the adjustable hook S1 the proper adjustment of the cable may alu/'ays be had. A convenient meansl for lubrication of the shaft Q in the journalhead N, is the oil-cup from which the pipe Vt leads into said journal-head.

in assembling this machine each of the support-bars has its end secured in the endstandards; after the carriage is slid onto the support-bars they are then secured in the other end-standard. The yoke is then placed in position as shown in the drawings and by the bolts K it is drawn into contact with the carriage. The set-screws P are then manipulated and the position desired for the yoke is obtained. After the yoke has been so adjusted on the carriage into the position desired, they bolts K are screwed down and the yoke will be held immovably in position. i

My invention is of utility as a tightener and regulator for belting operatingv upon pulleys vertically disposed, or disposed at a right angle to each other, and is especially useful in connection with the operation of well-pumping rigs and other heavy and transitory power rigs, where on account of the temporary and comparatively imperfect installation, the proper tension and the accurate travel on the pulleys, of the belting, is practically impossible.

In the operation ofmy invention it is rigidly secured, or anchored in a suitable f location adjacent the belting that is-.tobe ope-rated upon. The set-nuts S2 are iirst adjusted so that the cables U and V are taut. By manipulation of the hand-wheel I the carriage may be controlled. By the ingenious construction, combination vand arrangement of the parts composing this machine the pulley-wheel R may be moved gradually, accurately and irresistibly into engagement with the belting, and the carriage will hold and be sustained inthe position where it has been so set, By the setting of the yoke in a position inclined from perpendicular the course of the belting may be raised or lowered as the case may be. A great advantager accomplished by my invention is that the adjusting in position of this yoke may be accomplished whileV the machine is in us and the pulley-wheel in actual engagement with the belting. The bolts K are irst loosened sufficiently then by manipulation of the set-bolts B the line of inclination of the yoke may be varied to any desired degree.

`What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A device of the kind described, comprising a frame com osed of a pair of end-standards having paral eli support-bars secured therein, a carriage slidingly secured to said supportbars and having an upright, a yoke having the body-portion adapted to be sustained directly against and in adjustable engagemen-t with the upright, the arms of said yoke having journal-heads in which 4the shaft-ends ofthe pulley-wheel are journaled, a drum journaled on one end of the said frame adapted to be actu-ated' by a. handwheel through a worm-gear and worm, and another drum journaled aty the opposite vend of saidframe, a flexible connection connected to saiddrums and havingl connection with the said carriage, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto` signed my name to this specification in theV presence of twosubscribingV witnesses.

' OTTS E. SHAFER'.

Witnesses z ROBT. BARR, H. L. Nonnrs. 

